I felt Kirstin's presence so strongly during the Eucharistic prayer Lynell Walker offered at the 7 p.m. memorial service for Duaine Van Dyke this evening at Trinity.

After the service, instead of going to the reception, I shared in the sacristy with Lynell, Andrea Baker and Tina Campbell a beautiful memory of Kirstin that came to me as I heard that evening's Eucharistic prayer.

I remembered Kirstin, wearing a chasuble for the first time, offering her own Eucharist in the seminary chapel as four of us filmed and assisted in each other's culminating experience for our Liturgics course with Lizette Larson-Miller in May of 2009. Kirstin presided with such grace, humility and joy that evening.

I'm so grateful that God sparked in me -- right near the end of Kirstin's life here on earth -- this memory of Kirstin sharing the Body of Christ, the Bread of Heaven.

Thank you, Andee, for uniting so many of Kirstin's friends through her blog. May you be embraced in the loving arms of Jesus this night as you say goodbye to Kirstin.

Andee, my thoughts and prayers are with you tonight. I wish you healing and rest, and the gift of knowing you got everything "right" for Kristin during her illness and at her death, no small thing, and through no small effort on your part. You are a fine and noble and gentle hero. May you feel God's presence in every step of your healing process.- Wendy

Into your hands, O merciful Savior, we commend your servant, Kirstin. Acknowledge, we humbly beseech you, a sheep of your own fold, a lamb of your own flock, a sinner of your own redeeming. Receive her into the arms of your mercy, into the blessed rest of everlasting peace, and into the glorious company of the saints in light.

May angels lead you into paradise; upon your arrival, may the martyrs receive you and lead you to the holy city of Jerusalem. May the ranks of angels receive you, and with Lazarus, the poor man, may you have eternal rest. "And all manner of thing is well...."

Andee, God grant you his Peace and his Rest from all your labors over these long months and especially in the next few days and weeks to come. If ever I want to tell the story of the Gospel and what it means to be a Servant of Christ, I shall tell folks about you and your care for Kirstin, and now her care for you until we ALL meet again. YOU are in our prayers. You humble me.

Oh Andee, I am so saddened. Bless you for being there with Kirstin. She had the best of the best in you. May peace and healing come to you, and may god hold you close during those times when things are difficult.

Andee, thanks for such a demonstration of love. May the Holy Spirit give you peace and comfort. I will miss hearing from Kirstin on her blog but the lessons she has given will benefit me for the rest of my life.

"A Joyous Dance Through Endless Time," composed by David Moran for hammer dulcimer and handbells, was played at our wedding. It seems an appropriate tune to describe Kirstin's future as of last night her "heavenly birthday."

Andee, thank you so much for the love and care you gave to our friend. I hope you feel how many people are holding you know as we all share the loss- lightened by our certainty that Kirstin is now free and joyful in God's arms.

Kirstin no longer is looking at the rabbit hole but soaring, flying, with laughter and bare feet. God bless you, Kirstin, I love you and will look forward to seeing you when my time comes.

Andee, my heart goes out to you as you have been in that liminal place between heaven and earth. You have been with the saints. May you find loving arms to hold you tonight, tomorrow and in the days to come.

Andee, I am so sorry for your loss. I pray you will find the same love and support that you gave Kirstin and helped others give her as you walk through your own grief and transition to life without her.

Thank you for sharing her and her process with us...It was a tremendous gift.

Andee: Can't really add anything more profound than what others have left above, but to say thank you for your ministry and love. On this "independence day" weekend, may we all take heart at your witness to what true freedom "dependence" gives us.

The last thing she said to me was, "I love you like crazy. Forever." I'm holding onto that for as long as she said, and loving her back just as long.

Andee, three times in my own life I have been the one there, left behind, to literally close the eyes of someone I loved dearly, for the last time. Only those who have been in those shoes can even imagine the pain and sacrifice that you have endured... but it is one that you will never regret having carried for one you loved so dearly. But it wears you down. It does. Please Andee, please take care of yourself and know that, even though I've never met you, I will always love you and be grateful for you and what you have done for Kirstin... and by extension, what you have done for us all. I'm so sorry for the pain you're feeling.

Heaven is an even more wonderful place now that a new angel has arrived. And I am a better person for having been touched by that angel during her stay here on earth. Prayers and love to you, Andee, and all Kirstin's friends who were with her singing her home.

Thank you, Andee, for sharing Kirstin's last moments with us, and for the love and care you gave her. May you be comforted in your grief, and held safely in the embrace of an all-loving God as you continue in your love and ministry in this world.

Andee, I "stumbled upon" Kirstin's blog through another. I am humbled and inspired by reading through the most recent few entries. She strikes me as "an old soul." I work as a chaplain in a hospice in Florida and have journeyed with many through their final days. Kirstin's approach toward dying is remarkable. I will be reading and re-reading some of her words, and with permission will share some of what I have read with folks on my team. Though her life on earth may be complete, her work is not finished. It will continue through her friends and those on the fringes, like me. My heartfelt prayers are with you.Jess McCrosky

Warmest thoughts to you Andee, and as others have posted, wishes that you will be held by friends in the days and weeks to come. Be gentle with yourself. I am so sorry for your great loss and so glad that you and Kirstin shared the friendship you did.

I accidently (not) found Barefoot and Laughing a couple of weeks ago. I found myself so drawn to the writings of Kirstin that last Sunday shortly after reading her more recent posts, I went back to the beginning and read - this is truly a book in the making! A beautiful testimony of following one's own path; perserving, sustaining, and releashing; loss; finding gifts in the everyday simpleness of life amidst tremendous complexities and hard decisions to be made; love and friendship. Without knowing either you or Kirstin, I can simply say my life has been blessed significantly through the words -- yes, the ground in which we are standing RIGHT NOW is holy ground. She, and you, demonstrate this in such a gentle, powerful way. To set root in where you are standing and to grow. Thank you for sharing your lives in such a meaningful way.

Care for yourself in the coming days, and continue to write through the process. I am hopeful you will keep writing Barefoot and Laughing along the way.

There are no words, really, that I can add to what has already been said. But I am certain that Kirstin is now at peace, whole and sound and singing with the choirs of angels. Andee, I have not met you, but know you are in my prayers also, and have my deepest appreciation for all that you did for Kirsten and her friends in her last months, days and hours. Rest in peace, Kirsten. Jan

I will hold you always in my heart. The lessons you taught me will be a thread of the fabric of my ministries to others. Thank you for your beautiful example of how to live a life of shameless joy through service.

Andee, thank you for your loving care and willingness to open your home and life to all who loved Kirstin. Bless you, bless you, bless you.

As I understand there are now memorial plans (tentatively?) set, I hope you'll post them on Barefoot&Laughing as they are confirmed. I know there are those of us here who will want to gather, real-world, to celebrate Kirstin's life.

ah, sad to think of this, that she is gone -- then I remind myself, this is as she knew it would go. then say only, thank you for sharing this journey with us, and may peace fill your heart now her journey has taken her onward...

After reading Kirsten's blogs at times, and being the same age as her, I thought she would beat this thing. She would live. And live. And I would see her at Bishop's Ranch again next spring, and she would be better and better. I'm sad I will not hear any more news (good or bad) from her, but she was preparing us (and herself) for this. Death always seems to come way too quickly.Thank you, Cherished Daughter, for being a Messenger of Love and Reality. You have helped me poise the questions of more authentic meaning to my everyday existence, which is never too long for any of us.HelenEl Cerrito

Dearest Andee...I am so sorry for your loss. I know Kristen is with God and happy. I also know what it is like to be the one left behind. Please take care of you for a time. Give your heart and body the time to heal. I was never one to break down at the time and cry my eyes out. I, like you, had to take care of business. I grieve in pieces to this day. A song, a thought and I cry for a bit and go on. We all grieve in different ways and that is OK as long as we allow the pain to come out when it needs to. You were such a blessing to Kirsten the one constant person the unconditional love. God Bless you and keep you safe within His arms. I am in Washington and cannot come down. If you are ever up this way please come to visit me. You can reach me at laughinglady7@yahoo.com